Skil 20V 420 CFM Leaf Blower Kit

Why I switched to this blower

I spent the last month replacing my corded unit with Skil’s 20V blower for everyday cleanup around my driveway, patio, and small lawn. I wanted something light, simple, and strong enough to push wet clumps without feeling like overkill. This model sits in that practical middle ground: more muscle than the tiny sweepers, far easier to live with than a gas unit, and thoughtfully designed for day-to-day tasks.

What you get and first setup

The kit includes the blower, a 20V 4.0Ah battery, a 60W charger, a detachable tube, and a wall-mount storage bracket. Assembly is painless—snap the tube on, charge the pack, and you’re working. The storage bracket is a nice touch; it keeps the blower off the floor and the tube out of harm’s way.

Key specs that framed my expectations:
- 420 CFM, 105 MPH (15,000 RPM)
- Brushless motor
- Variable-speed trigger with lock-on and a boost function
- IPX4 weather resistance
- Tool-only weight: 3.3 lb (the 4.0Ah pack brings it into the ~5 lb range)

Design and ergonomics

The D-handle layout with an overmolded grip provides a natural, neutral wrist angle. With the 4.0Ah battery installed, the balance sits near the handle so I didn’t have to fight nose-heavy torque. It’s light enough for one-handed use and easy to maneuver around cars and flower beds. The tube attaches securely with no wiggle once it clicks in, and detaches quickly for storage.

Fit and finish are better than I expected at this price tier. The controls feel robust, the trigger is smooth, and the housing doesn’t creak under light flex. IPX4 doesn’t mean “storm-proof,” but it does mean I can keep working through a sprinkle or wet grass without worry.

Controls and usability

Skil did well with the control scheme:
- Variable-speed trigger offers fine control for sweeping debris without sandblasting mulch.
- A lock-on slider saves your trigger finger on longer stretches.
- A speed indicator gives a quick glance at your setting.
- The boost button adds a noticeable surge when you hit a stubborn patch.

The boost location is easy to reach with your thumb, and it’s genuinely useful. Instead of running the whole job at maximum, I used medium speeds for most surfaces and bumped boost briefly to pop heavier clumps loose. That approach also helped stretch runtime.

Performance on different surfaces

Air volume (420 CFM) and air speed (105 MPH) place this blower squarely in the “serious homeowner” category. Here’s how it handled common tasks for me:

• Driveway and sidewalk: Dry leaves, grass clippings, and sawdust vanish quickly at low to medium speeds. The air stream is broad enough to move a wide swath without leaving stragglers behind, and boost cleans up stubborn corners near garage doors.
• Patio pavers and deck boards: Medium speed keeps debris moving without blasting grit into gaps. Boost helps with leaves wedged between boards.
• Wet leaves: On concrete, boost moved damp clusters reliably, though not in large piles. On grass, it took more passes; soaking-wet mats still required patience or a rake.
• Gravel and mulch borders: The trigger control is the star here. Lower speeds let me herd leaves without sending half my driveway stones into the lawn.
• Pine needles: These always challenge mid-tier blowers. This model did fine off hard surfaces. In turf, I needed to get close and use boost; a narrow concentrator tip would help, but the kit doesn’t include one.

Overall, it’s a capable daily driver. For massive fall cleanups or heavy, sodden piles across a large yard, a higher-voltage unit with more CFM will finish faster. For weekly tidying and post-mow cleanup, this blower is well matched.

Runtime and charging

With the included 20V 4.0Ah battery, my measured runtimes were:
- Continuous high (not boost): roughly 18–22 minutes
- Mixed use (medium speeds with short boost bursts): about 30–35 minutes
- Low-speed sweeping on hard surfaces: 45 minutes or more

That’s enough to handle my driveway, sidewalk, patio, and a quick pass along the curb on a single charge. If you consistently work in boost, expect runtime to shrink, but the punch is worth it for short, tough patches.

The 60W charger took right around an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes to bring a dead pack back to full in my tests. That’s fast enough to top up between tasks without much downtime. If you’re maintaining a larger property, consider a second 4.0Ah pack for continuous runtime.

Noise and vibration

Noise is moderate and lower-pitched than the whiny tone I often get from small blowers. It’s not whisper-quiet, but I was comfortable running it around the house without feeling like I was rattling the windows. Vibration through the handle is minimal, and the lock-on helps reduce fatigue on longer runs.

Weather resistance and durability

IPX4 means splashes and light rain, not downpours. I used it after drizzle and over damp grass without issue. The motor is brushless, which tends to be efficient and durable, and the body shows thoughtful sealing around seams and switches. The tube and coupler feel sturdy; I didn’t experience any flex or rattling after multiple removals for storage.

Storage and portability

The detachable tube shortens the footprint on a shelf, and the included wall bracket makes it easy to grab-and-go. At around five pounds with the battery, it’s an easy tool to carry one-handed while you relocate hoses or move patio chairs. No cord, no gas, and no priming means it’s the kind of tool you actually use for five-minute jobs.

What could be better

• No concentrator nozzle: A tapered tip would help with pine needles and packed debris without relying as much on boost. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it would broaden its usefulness.
• Not a heavy-leaf mover: For big fall cleanups on large properties, this 420 CFM unit will get it done, just more slowly than higher-output, higher-voltage blowers.
• Single-battery kit: For bigger jobs, one 4.0Ah pack can feel limiting. A two-battery bundle would be a stronger fit for larger yards.

Where it fits best

• Small to mid-size yards
• Weekly maintenance: post-mow clippings, sidewalks, patios, decks, garage floors
• Mixed surfaces where variable control matters around mulch and gravel
• Homeowners who value light weight, quick setup, and simple storage

If your use case is primarily seasonal heavy leaf removal or moving wet, matted piles across a large lawn, consider stepping up to a higher-output class. If you need a dependable, everyday blower that lives on a hook and knocks out routine cleanup without fuss, this hits the sweet spot.

The bottom line

The Skil 20V blower combines practical power, excellent ergonomics, and smart controls in a compact package. The variable trigger, lock-on, and boost make it easy to tailor airflow to the task, the brushless motor delivers efficient performance, and the IPX4 rating adds peace of mind for damp-day use. Runtime on the included 4.0Ah battery is solid for routine jobs, and the 60W charger turns a full discharge into a short break rather than a long wait. A concentrator tip would be welcome, and it’s not the right tool for massive, wet leaf drifts—but for everyday cleanup on hard surfaces and light to moderate yard debris, it excels.

Recommendation: I recommend this blower for homeowners who want a lightweight, no-hassle, mid-range cordless tool for routine cleanup. It’s easy to handle, has thoughtful controls, and provides enough power and runtime to keep small and medium properties tidy without dragging out a cord or wrestling with gas. If your workload is primarily heavy, wet leaf removal across large areas, look to a higher-output class; otherwise, this is a well-balanced, capable choice.